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Photography Tips and Tutorials from Northof49Photography

If you are a group of 3 or 4 photographers and have always wanted to photograph the Northern Lights in one of the best places to photograph them in Canada, we are now opening up the months of October and March each year specifically for these semi private tours.

Below You will see the itinerary that we have as a template. Some customization specifically for your group can be added to suit your groups specific needs.

Day One Arrive at Whitehorse airport and get picked up and taken to our accommodation. A relaxing group dinner and a chance to photograph the area and await the night skies for the first possible aurora photography.

Day TwoWe head to the Whitehorse Wild Animal Preserve to view all the species that wander Yukon in the wild. This is a chance to photograph species such as moose, caribou, Yak, woodland Bison, mule deer, arctic fox, Canada Lynx, Thinhorn Sheep and mountain goats in a natural setting.

In the afternoon we will head over to the Tahini Hot Springs for a few hours to relax in the natural hot springs.

After dinner we will head out to photograph one of the local lakes surrounded by the fall colors in the higher elevations.

After dinner we head to our very own aurora viewing area away from the crowds and light pollution at sky high ranch. A heated ger tent in high lands with our own fire pit to keep warm. The area here is very photogenic with mountain peaks on all sides with plenty to photograph before the lights potentially show themselves after dark.

Day Three - October 2, 2016After a later breakfast we will depart for Kluane National Park for landscape photographic opportunities of the Yukon Mountains and lakes. On the way we stop regularly to allow you the opportunity to take photos of the beautiful landscape. Once we reach Kluane we can go for a short hike around Kathleen Lake. One of the most attractive lakes in southern Yukon.

The 22 000 square kilometer Kluane National Park is set like a jewel in the southwestern corner of the Yukon between northeastern British Columbia and the tidewaters of the Alaskan panhandle. Much of the park's 129 kilometer northern boundary is made up of the Alaska Highway and the Haines Road. The Alsek River, known for its big water rapids created by the tremendous volume of water it drains from the St. Elias Mountains, is so swift it appears that native people have entirely avoided using it for travel or trade routes.

Upon our return we will group together for a few hours going through your images to make sure you get some classroom time editing. After an early dinner I will take you to our night of aurora viewing on the shores of Fish Lake. As the sun goes down and the skies start to glow orange we will photograph the shores framed by mountains until we hopefully see that to the north an eerie, sulfurous-green sheen begins to ripple into the night sky.

Our hope is that it arcs itself into an ebb and flow, slowly growing, then suddenly bursts across the full expanse of the night sky waving and dancing as if it were happy. It’s the spectacular and mystical Northern Lights and viewings such as the one above are common in the Yukon.

Our viewing for aurora will be the ger tent in high lands with our own fire pit to keep warm. The area here is very photogenic with mountain peaks on all sides with plenty to photograph before the lights potentially show themselves after dark.

Day FourToday is our day to drive south and take in another topographical wonder that was created millions of years ago. Today we head to Carcross Desert. The smallest desert in the world. This desert is surrounded by mountains and cliffs that are adorned with fall colors at this time of year. As an added bonus, early in the mornings your photos often consist of sand foregrounds, fall colors in the trees and the snow and frost line above.

We will also photograph the stunning Emerald Lake area along the southern highways and the Atlin Mountains.

After we return to Whitehorse we will have dinner and head out once again to watch the skies for the aurora dance on top of the mountain ranges around Whitehorse.

Our viewing for aurora will be the heated ger tent in high lands with our own fire pit to keep warm. The area here is very photogenic with mountain peaks on all sides with plenty to photograph before the lights potentially show themselves after dark.

Day FiveToday is our day to photograph the very photogenic Miles Canyon.

Originally referred to as Grand Canyon, Fredrick Schwatka renamed it in July of 1883 Miles Canyon after General Nelson Miles. Schwatka wrote, “Through this narrow chute of corrugated rock the wild waters of the great river rush in a perfect mass of milk-like foam, with a reverberation that is audible for a considerable distance.” Although accounts differ as to the ferocity of the rapids, there is no question that they were very dangerous. During the Gold Rush, hundreds of boats loaded with precious supplies were lost (as well as several lives) before the Northwest Mounted Police arrived to regulate traffic.

Eventually a wooden rail system around the canyon eliminated the need to battle this hazard. The hydroelectric dam constructed to provide power to Whitehorse has tamed Miles Canyon, but drifting through its 50-foot high basaltic walls is still a thrill.

The afternoon is a free afternoon to wander the museums and shops in downtown Whitehorse. Then we prepare for our last night of skies with another possible aurora dancing above our heads.

Day SixDeparture day. You will be taken to the airport for your flight home.Flights south are generally 5:50am, 8:00am ad 4:00pm

Price: $3500 Canadian per person

Deposit: $750 Canadian

Included: Dinner on day one, snacks, juice and water available in vehicle, transportation, entrance fees to all parks and attractions, accommodation at Best Western Gold Rush Inn, guidance, night photography locations and amenities and private land access for aurora viewing, welcome gift.

Not Included: Alcohol, meals not included in the tour, travelers insurance, items of personal nature.

Contact me through our Contact Us Page and let us know the week you want to attend and to receive booking information. Or email Kevin at kevinapepper@outlook.com

Kevin is a photographer and educator based in Waterloo, Ontario. His first love is photographing nature, regardless of the season or weather condition; the Ontario landscape and its wildlife are his inspiration. But you will also see other styles of photography in his portfolio. From street photography to urban exploration of abandoned buildings and architecture, he loves to capture it all with his camera for his corporate clients and his growing personal portfolio. Kevin’s images have been featured in Canadian Nature Photographer, PHOTONews Canada, Photo Technique Magazine, The London Free Press, The Weather Network, and National Geographic Online. His diverse client list includes the City of Cambridge, Olympus, GORE Mutual, TVO, and African Lion Safari. Kevin also operates “Northof49 Photography”, a company launched in 2012 dedicated to teaching amateur photographers through International and Canadian-based workshops. In the coming year, Kevin will be leading workshops in Iceland, Mongolia, Tanzania, Venezuela, Provence, and numerous destinations across Canada. Website: www.kevinpepperphotography.com